Algorand has released a roadmap aiming to achieve "quantum resistance" by the end of 2027. Let's discuss why this is worth paying attention to.

Today, almost all public blockchains protect your assets with cryptography that relies on a simple premise: current computers cannot solve it. But in theory, a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could use Shor's algorithm to break the lock used for signatures—that is, to derive your private key from your public key.
The good news is that day is probably still far off. Google's research estimates that running this type of attack would require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, while the most powerful quantum machines currently have only a few hundred to just over a thousand qubits, a difference of three orders of magnitude. The bad news is that changing the lock itself is extremely slow.
It's not just a matter of users switching wallets; it involves changing the entire underlying layer of the chain—accounts, signatures, even consensus—layer by layer, often taking several years. Algorand's approach is worth mentioning because it isn't a promissory note to be fulfilled in 2027. This effort has been underway since 2022, and the mainnet has already processed over 140,000 quantum-resistant transactions. The plan is phased: this year’s third quarter will see the deployment of native quantum-resistant accounts, with a transitional "hybrid account" that uses both classical and quantum-resistant keys, switching fully once the new algorithms are mature. Only after the entire protocol is upgraded will the target date be set for the end of 2027.
The cost is real. Quantum-resistant signatures are significantly larger than the current ones, taking up more space and bandwidth per transaction, making the chain heavier. This isn't free security. For you and me, the conclusion is straightforward. Quantum threats won't impact prices in the short term; this isn't a trading reason. But "which chains are seriously laying the groundwork for security ten years from now, and already have something running on-chain" is a somewhat obscure indicator of whether a project is truly long-term oriented.
Most chains are still at "wait until the threat arrives," but those who are taking proactive steps can be identified by on-chain analysis.